Effect of oromotor stimulation on early sucking behavior and later development in preterm newborns

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Clinical Nutrition

Background:

• Preterm infants (<34 weeks gestation) frequently experience feeding challenges due to underdeveloped oromotor coordination.
• Feeding difficulties in preterm neonates can impede growth and prolong hospitalization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of structured oromotor stimulation (OMS), unstructured stimulation, and standard care in preterm infants.
• To evaluate the impact of different feeding interventions on oral feeding acquisition, growth, and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 150 preterm infants was conducted.
• Infants were assigned to receive structured OMS, unstructured stimulation, or standard care.
• Outcomes measured included time to full oral feeding, weight gain, hospital stay duration, and neurodevelopmental scores at 6 months.

Main Results:

• Standard care resulted in significantly earlier full oral feeding (8.84 ± 2.37 days) compared to OMS interventions.
• Infants receiving standard care exhibited greater weight gain (40.04 ± 6.92%) and shorter hospital stays (24.16 ± 4.52 days) (p < 0.001).
• Neurodevelopmental scores at 6 months were significantly higher in the standard care group.

Conclusions:

• Standard care is more effective than oromotor stimulation (OMS) interventions for improving feeding, growth, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants.
• The findings suggest that standard care protocols may be optimal for supporting preterm infant development and reducing healthcare burdens.